Package



D. D. BROWN March 11, 193'.

PACKAGE Filed June 2, 1928 h i 1 VENTOR ATTOR EY Patented Mar. 11, 1930 PATENT OFFICE DONALD D. BROWN, OF VALLEY STREAM, NEW YORK PAGKAGE Application filed June 2, 1928. Serial No. 282,452.

The present invention relates to an improvement in packages, one object being to provide a container more particularly adapted for use in connection with commodities which ordinarily deteriorate when open to the atmosphere. For example, it is well known that ground coffee loses its characteristic fresh flavor after it has been exposed to the air for a relatively short time. It is therefore of especial interest not only to the merchant but also to the consumer to have a container which will permit the sale of commodities like coffee in relatively large lots and yet which will in use expose only a relatively small portion of the contents at any given time.

A preferred form of package embodying my invention is disclosed in the drawings accompanying the present specification and in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation with a por tion of the wall of the container broken away;

Figure 2, a top plan view;

33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4, a corner elevation of a modification with portions of the outer walls broken away and with interior portions indicated in section on the line 4-4 of Figure 5; and

Figure 5, a plan view of the modification illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring to the drawings,

my improved package comprises a contalner 1 of cylindrical cross sectional contour and provided with a bead 2. The interior of the container 1 is fitted with a pair of cooperating partition members 3 and 4, each of angular shape and the member 3 having a reentrant edge portion 5 adapted to engage and receive the ridge or edgeportion of the partition 4 The partition 3 is provided with flanges 6 and the partition 4 with flanges 7 closely engaging the inner surface of the container 1 which is provided with an end wall 8 having openings 9. A cover 10 has a bead 11 encircling its depending flange portion, said bead being adapted to engage the bead 2 of the container to retain the cover in operative position on the container. The cover 10 is provided with Figure 3, a transverse section on the line.

' end of the container and the opening 12 in a discharge opening 12 which may be adjusted to register with any of the openings 9 by rotating the cover. A sealing member or closure 13 of paper or other suitable and preferably frangible sealing or closing material is interposed between the cover 10 and the end wall 8 of the container 1. Opposite said end wall 8 is another end wall 14 which may be retained in operative position by any suitable means, as by an inturned flange 15 of the container 1.

The container 1 is assembled with the cover 10 and the sealing member 13 in position. The partitions 3 and 4 are inserted in the container which is then ready to receive its contents as of coffee or other desired commodity. When the package is full, the end piece 14 is inserted and secured in place by the flange 15 or by any other suitable device.

To remove a portion of the contents, the cover 10 is rotated to a position in which the opening 12 registers with one of the openings 9 whereupon the sealing member 13 is punctured or in part removed so as to permit a free passage between the opening 9 in the the cover. For this purpose the sealing member may be scored or otherwise weakened at portions adjacent to said openings 9. After any given compartment has been opened as by breaking the sealing member 13, the contents will then be in part protected until used by rotating the cover so as to bring an imperforate portion thereof over the previously exposed opening 9. As soon as the contents of one compartment have been removed, those of another are made available by a similar operation.

In this form of package, the coffee or other commodity is delivered to the consumer in a single package which is the equivalent of four separate packages so far as the conserving effect of the package is concerned. In this way, the consumer may purchase a substantial quantity of the desired commodity at one time without loss from deterioration of the last used portions.

In the modification illustrated in Figure 4, the container 15 is of rectangular shape and is provided with a transverse partition 16 and longitudinal partitions 17 which divide the interior of the container into eight separate compartments. The container also has end walls 18 and 19 provided with a plurality of removable or defiectable portions or tabs 20 which when removed or displaced afford openings into adjacently located compartments formed by the partitions previously referred to. Covers 21 engage the opposite portions of container 15.

In use, access is gained to any given compartment by lifting or removing a cover 21 at one end and deflecting or removing one of the tabs 20. When the desired amount of a commodity has been removed for use the cover is again placed in position to eifectually protect the remainder of the commodity in the opened compartment. When one of the compartments is emptied the contents of another will be exposed in a similar way until all of the eight or more compartments shall have been depleted.

The modification presents various beneficial features from the viewpoint of the mer- 25 chant as well as from that of the consumer. For example, the rectangular shape lends itself to packing and shipping and the multiplicity of small compartments makes it possible to market the commodity in much larger units. For example, with an eightcompartment package, it would be feasible to sell coffee in two-pound cartons or packages instead of i one-pound packages because the amount of coffee actually exposed on opening any given compartment would be a quarter of a pound.

I claim as my invention:

A receptacle comprising a hollow body member and a pair of angle shaped partitions thereinrone of which has a longitudinal reentrant groove adapted to receive the longitudinal ridge portion of the other, and both being provided with longitudinal flanges bearing against portions of the interior surface of the body member.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification this 29th day of May, 1928.

DONALD .D. BROWN. 

